Stepladder tray or shelf



June 21, 1949. M. M. HICKEY 2,473,951

STE PLADDER TRAY OR SHELF Filed July 3, 1945 #1:? tfijgq' n v 32 20 i: :::::::d: U L

4 44 V C 8 50 2 Fl? 4: 20 F 7 54 "52 INVENTOR.

- MARVIN M'H /CKE Y ATTu R N EYS Patented June 21, 1949 STEPLADDER TRAY on SHELF Marvin M. Hickey, South Bend, Ind.

Application July 3, 1945, Serial No. 603,042

1 Claim. (Cl. 248--238) This invention relates to a step ladder tray or shelf which is detachable and particularly adapted for use with stepladders that are used by housewives in cleaning their homes.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a detachable tray or shelf that will support buckets and other articles necessary for cleaning walls, windows and the like.

The present day step ladders will not accommodate more than one bucket at a time and this drawback prevents the housewife from accomplishing her job in a quick and efiicient manner. With the aid of the present invention she can use two buckets, one for cleaning water and one for rinsing water.

The tray or shelf could also be used by painters, carpenters or electricians in a like manner to support any articles that are necessary to their occupation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a detachable tray or shelf which is light, strong and durable and can be quickly applied to or removed from a step ladder.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the description proceeds when taken in connection with the disclosures in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of an embodiment of the invention, partly broken away.

Fig. 2 is a side view thereof, in operative position on a step ladder shown in section.

Fig. 3 is a, perspective view of the tray.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of a modification of the device.

Fig. 6 is a side view thereof.

Fig. '7 is a sectional view on the line 1-7 of Fig. 5, and

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the clamping means of the tray.

Referring more in detail to the drawings the conventional step ladder In formed with the usual rails [2 between which are mounted steps l4 and the top shelf [5 is set up in the usual working manner by extending the bracing legs !8 which are usually pivoted to the ladder as shown in section in Fig. 2.

The invention which is to be used in conjunction with such a step ladder comprises a large rectangular shaped tray 26 which is provided with upstanding sides 22 and ends 24 forming a continuous flange or rail around the entire periphery of the tray 28, the outer edge of which is bevelled as shown.

Adjacent the sides 22 the tray is provided with diametrically opposed openings 26 and in like manner diametrically opposed openings 28 are positioned adjacent the ends 24.

When the tray is to be used as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a bolt 30 having a wing nut 32 is positioned in one of the openings 28 and inserted through the openings 34 of a spacer block 36 having a straight rear edge 38 and a triangular shaped front edge 40.

The opening 34 is positioned at the medial point of the block 36 adjacent the rear edge 38 thereof. With the openings thus positioned and the apex 42 of the front edge contacting the step M of the ladder ID the shelf will stay in one position and not shift laterally.

An L-shaped clamping bar 44 having the forward end bevelled at 46 and the depending end rounded at 48 is provided with an opening 50 to receive the bolt 30 and when the tray is positioned on the upper side of the top shelf l6 and the clamping bar is positioned on the lower side of the top shelf [6 the tray 20 can be firmly clamped thereon by tightening the wing nut 32.

When the device is to be used as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, bolts 30 are positioned in the openings 26 and are adapted to be received in registering opening 52 and slot 53 in the elongated clamping .bar 54. Thus when the tray is positioned on the upper side of the top shelf l6 and the bar 54 is positioned on the lower side of the top shelf Hi the tray 29 can be firmly clamped thereon by tightening the wing nuts 32.

The slot 53 permits the bar 54 to be swung into or out of operative position without entirely removing the bolts 30 from the tray 20.

While the device has been shown in use with the top shelf of the ladder it can be easily placed on the steps in like manner, since the width of the tray is slightly smaller than the width of the conventional step ladder.

It is believed that from the foregoing description the operation of the device will be clearly understood without going into a more minute and detailed description of the operation thereof.

It will be seen, therefore, that there has been provided a simple but practical device which can be cheaply manufactured, will be of great help and assistance in its particular field. It comprises a few working parts that are simple to operate and will not easily wear out. It is light, portable, easily carried from one location to another and just as easily stored when not in use.

It will also be understood that the embodiment illustrated herein is merely used as an example thereof and that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or falling beyond the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

A tray for attachment to a step of a step ladd'er comprising a rectangular bottom, a continuous flange aboutlisaid bottom toforrma tram-said bottom "being adaptedto rest upon theppper sur= face of the step substantially lengthwise of the same, said bottom having a pair of spaced open-- ings transversely spaced in a planennediahofrsaidi bottom and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 15 of said bottom portion, each of said='openings-be=- ing adjacent said flange, bolt meanssthroughsaim openings, a. clamping bar being adapted to engage the lower surface of the step and to' receive: one of said bolts whereby said bar is pivotally mounteda oncsaid one:bolt'z forrswinginggsaid, bar relative :tolthe othenofl saichbolts; saidwclamping bar having a slot therein, spaced from said first step.

MARVIN M. HICKEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following, refererucescarew of, record in the UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 9454225: Ludlow Aug. 31, 1869 1,858,656 vBatherman May 17, 1932 22051306U" Upthegrove Aug. 18, 1936 2,308,180 Larsen et a1 Jan. 12, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 

